Fast-food friendship feeds the soul
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You might call it a fast-food friendship.
At the Woodbury Culver’s branch, they served up more than just burgers and frozen custard to regular customers Bebe and Jim Brown.
"They were that Friday night couple you could always count on coming in," manager Aaron Sungaard said.
Bebe knew all the employees, and they knew her. They also knew she liked extra chocolate with her dessert.
"She’d get a malt or a hot fudge sundae… always with extra hot fudge, and they’d take great care of her," said Bebe’s daughter, Kathy Connell.
Bebe Brown and her husband Jim were regulars at the Culver's in Woodbury, and employees say she had a "grandmotherly" presence at the fast food restaurant. When Bebe Brown died at the age of 86, Culver's remembered her by opening up the frozen custard bar in her honor.[KSTP]
"She was kind of that grandmotherly figure we had at the restaurant. I think she just liked the atmosphere," Sungaard said.
What started with hot fudge sundaes evolved into a friendship.
In fact, Bebe would often call Sungaard on his cellphone to chat. He always made time for her. Then, about a year ago, Bebe’s failing health and the COVID-19 pandemic prevented her from making her regular visits to Culver’s.
So, Sungaard started bringing Culver’s to her.
"They were unable to drive for that last year, so I just wanted to bring the experience to them because they were such loyal customers," he said.
It became their ritual until Bebe passed away this fall at the age of 86.
The ritual was so meaningful that Bebe’s family decided to have part of her "Celebration of Life" at Culver’s. They closed the restaurant to the public and opened up the frozen custard bar in Bebe’s honor.
They are certain Bebe would’ve approved.
"I think every act of kindness is so important and you may not understand how it is touching someone’s life. It may seem insignificant but it’s really a gift," Connell said.